Automatic vending-machine.



s. T. woLFE.

AUOMATIC VENDING MACHINE. APPLlcAnoN man MAY zo. m5.

@QJ-mu.. Gm

I. T4 WULFE.

AUTOMATIC VENDJNG MACHINE.

APPUCAHQN min MAY zo, 1915.

Pnfrfented May28,l918.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

y INI/EN TUI? ra 7.* WQ/f'e f BY l. T. WOLFE.

AUTDMATIC VENDING `NACHI APPLlcATIoN mso MAY xu. 1915.

l ,267, 730. Patented May 28, 1918.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

l 1 1f 1 111 1 l I,

IRA T. WOLFE,OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC VENDING-MACHINE.

To all wlwm t may concern:

Be it known that l7 liiA T. WoLFE, a` citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washing ton,have invented certain new and useful liiipi'ovemcnts in AutomaticVending-Machines, of which the following is a specifica- `tion.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic vending machines,and particularly to automatically operated devices for opening andfilling paper bags, and the object of this improvement is to provide anaccurate and reliable machine that will open a paper bag and tillritwith a commodity to he sold in response-'to the inseitioii of a coininto such machine.

The invention consists in the novel construction, .adaptation andcombination of parts, as will be more fully described in the followingspecification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and nallypointed out in the appended claims.

:ln the. accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in sideelevation and partly `in vertical` section of a machine embodying the`invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged View iii side elevation of thebag-opening and filling mechanism, Ycertain parts being shown insecutioii; Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal eross-sec :tion on ybrokenline 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in cross section onbroken line elf-l of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is vieiv in cross section of certaindetails ot the invention illustrating an electric circuit that isconiiected therewith; Fig. G is a fragmentary view in perspective of aconveyer, and Fig. 7

`is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a portion of the coinmechanism.

i Referring to the accompanying drawings,

:throughout `which like reference numerals indicatek like parts, thcimmoral 1 indicates thecasing of a vending machine embodying y.thisinvention, and 2 indicates a hopper that is disposed therein and adaptedto contain Mipop-,corn or other commodity that is otter-ed forsale.

yThehoppei' 2 isprovided with an endless aconveyer $5 having .buckets 4of a form more eleerlyehown in Fig. 6, that are driven conitinuaiisly bya ,motor 5 in the direction indi- .icaitedby the arrow A, to -elevatematerial com the hopper 2 into a measuring chute 6 that isfonniiected hya passageway 7 with the top .portion of such hopper, as shown in .'Fig."1.

Serial No. 27,122.

The buckets are filled as they pass upwardly through the lower portionof the hopper 2 and move with their openisides against the side of suchhopper until they4 are opposite to the passageway 7, at which point thecontents of each bucket are delivered to the chute 6.

lVhcfi the chute has become filled, the.

buckets will carry past such chute andivill dump their contents backinto the lioppei' 2, thus giving the appearance of a continuous supplyof fresh material being delivered to such hopper.

lVithiii the loiver front portion of the casing` is a segmental shapedsack holder 8 that is supported on standards 9 and is adapted to receivefolded sacks 10 that are to he opened and iilled. The sack-holder 8forms a Support for a transverse shaft 1l that is sl-idably mountedthereiitandprovided with a sleeve 12 having an outwardly proiectingarm13 that engages behindthe sacks 10 to move them forward. The Shaft 11 isprovided with a Worin-wheel Methat meshes with a worm 15 on a Shaft 1Gand the sleeve 12 is connected with the shaft 1l by a longitudinal slot17 and a vpin 18 that permits the shaft 11 to be moved longitudinally tothrow the worm Wheel 14 out of ,mesh with the worm 15 when a freshsupply of sacks is placed in the sack-holder 8, as illustrated by brokenlines in Fig. 3.

Thepaper sacks 10 are constructed iii the usual manner so that when theyare folded, one edge 2U will project slightly `"aliovertlie other edge201 to facilitate Io j eniiigand such sacks are placed iii the` sac;`holder `8 fwith the upwardly projecting, edge to the rear, whereby itmay be engaged by a tongue 21 on the front end ofthe holder 8 toslightly open the top ofthe foremost sack in such holder. Spring clips22 are provided on the front end'of the sack holder 8 to exert a Iyielding pressure.againstithe sacks 10 and such clips are adaptedtovbespruiig outwardly to release the sacks one atl atiine, ashereinafter explained. y

The sacks 10, tzitter `they `are i. cipencd slightly at the top by thetongue 21..are in a ino , ost 26 that rests on a. cross-pin 27 extendingi; etween two spaced disks 28 and 281 that are mounted on a, shaft 30and are adopted to be rotated by a motor 31. connected with the shaft 30by Wor1nwhee1 32 and worin 33.

A ratchet-Wheel 34 is provided on the shaft 30 and insulated from thedisk 28, and. a springpressed pawl 35 is secured to the disk 28 and isadapted, when released,lo engage with the ratchet wheel 34 to lock thedisk 28 and wheel 34 together and. to close an electrical circuit formedby circuit wires 86 and 37 that have Contact brushes 38 and engagingwith the disk 28 and ratchet- Wheel 34, respectively, and connect themotor 31 with a battery 41 or other source of elee trie current, as moreclearly illustrated in Fig. 5, whereby such motor may be enerized.

lVhen the' machine is et rest, the puwl 35 is supported above theratchet wheel 34 by a stud 42 on an arm 43 that is tnlerumcd on theshaft 30 and the arm 43 is provided. on one end with a liet plate deiupon which e, coin C may be dropped through a slot; lo to tilt the arm43 into an inclined position, and release the pawl 35.

lf desired, the shaft 30 may be driven con tinuousl and the electricalconnections with the ratc et Wheel 34: and disk 28 muy be left out, thepawl 35 then servin only to lock the ratchet wheel 34 and dis s 28 and.281 together when it is released.

When the disks 28 und 281 begin to move, the support 26 will encounter astop 16 and the pin 27 will move out from under such support. andApermit the arm 25 togetlnrr with the bag-opening members and Sill todrop downwardly into a sack 10; the pin 27 will then engage withsuitable extensions iT on the member 23 and will spread the members 23and 2-l apart, as shown in Fig'. 2, and open the sack in readiness to befilled.

* The end of the chute 6 is provided with .e hinged shutter 48, having uspring .'30 to retain it in a closed position and en ont wardlyextending arm 51 that is adopted to be eng: ed by a pin 52 in the member23 to open such shutter when the seek-opening device is lowered, theshutter 48 being snilably shaped to form a chute that is adopted toproject slightly within an opening il) in the member E24 to deliver thecontenls of the `chute (i between the members and Z4 and into a sucklOAvhen the members und are moved nport. After the sack has been filled,the seekopeners 2 3 and 24 will be engaged by pins 53 on the peripheriesof the disks 28 and ,281 to move thelower end of such openers outwardlyinto a position as illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 2, and permit thesack 10 to drop downwardly through an openingr 54 into a position whereit is accessible to neerffeo the purchaser, and the pin 27, after thedisks 28, 281 have made substantially onehalf oi one revolution, willengage with the bottom end ol the support .26 in the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. l and Will lift the arm 25 and sack-openers 23 and24 into the position shown in Fig. l. As the disks 2S, L81 com pletetheir revolution, the pewl 35 will engage with the stud 42 and be liftedfrom the ratchet wheel 3d, thus stopping the mechanism until such pawlis again released by the insertion of a coin.

When the bogopeni-,rs :33, 24 are moved, outwardly by the pins 53 torelease the lilled sack, the pin 52 will release the arm 5l and permitthe shutter 48 to close the end of the chute (l. The downward movementof'the sack-openers 23, Z-l is limited by a stirrup 55 that engages withand forms a guide for the free end of the erm Q5.

The shaft 1G is provided with a ratchetwhoel 5U engaged by n pawl 57 undadapted to be rotated interniittently bv e spring,

pressed plnngei D8 that posses through suit :dile guides (Si.) and isominoctcd with a tubulor member lil within which :i rod 61%, that isconnected with the :um i2-li, is slidnbiy disposi-d, the rod being:nluped to strike on the bottom of the tubular member (il each time thesuck-openers 23, EN: are hiwered to 9 move the ratchet wheel 56 a short.distance,

thns actuating the Worin 15 und worm-wheel 14V to rotate the shaft l1slightly and mm'e the sacks 10 forward a slight distance.

The chute 6 is articulated with the hopper .2 by n. hinge $3 und isconnected by a link Gi with nn ongular bei' G5 that is pivotally securedto the sackdiolder 8.. and a 'weight zn'ni (HS carrying :i xnovubleWeight 67 is se cured to the opper end of the chute to lift the lowerend of such chute and move the angular bnr 15 in one direction, andclose the coin slot l5 when no weight is contained in the chute 6. Whenthe chute 6 is lilled with material, the weight of such mnteria] willovcrbnlancc the weight 67 and lower he outer end of such chute, thusmoving the angular bar (i5 in an opposite direction :1nd opening; thecoin chute. This arrangement prevents the public from in sorting nn'nieyinto the machine when there is no materiel in the chute 6 to fill thesocks l0. \f

'The bag-opener Q3 is connected With the, orlo 25 by o spring 70 wherebythe lower ends ol' the members 225 and 2l ore held in contact with thelip 21 as the' move downwardly to insure that they wi 1 enter a sack l0and the support 2G is connected with the member 2i by a spring 7l. lohold such support in engngenn-,nt with the pin 27.

The opener '2lis provided 'with zi spring supported notched bar 72 thatprojects ontwardly through :i slot 73 in the opener 23 and engages withsuch opener 23 as shown in Fig. 2 to hold the openers 23 and 24 apart.after thesank has been opened1 the bar being adapted to engage with astop ta cause it to release the member 23 and permit the members 23 andal to close nnen they are raised.

The operation of this sacli opening and filling device is as follows:The commodity to be sold is placed in the hopper :Z and is elevated intothe chute l by the buffi it When the chute is filled, the lanlufts xsilldump'back into the hopper, thas keeping up a continuous movement of theooinmtulittyY and tending to attract the attention of the public.

When a coin is inserted through the slot 45 the pawl 35 will be releasedand the disks 28, 281 rotated to drop the sack-openers and open a Sack10. When the saolooiieners are lowered, the pin 52 will engage with thearm 51 and open the chute 3 Lo direct the contents of such chutedownnardly between the openers 23 and 24 into a sach 'lit After the sackhas been titled, the lug: Wlll engage the openers '23 and 2i and nanfathe bottom ends of Such f'ipiuurs outrrardlI= thus permitting the filledsuoi; to drop downwardly through the mening 54 where it. may be removtcdby the purchaser.

As soon as the pin` 27 reaches the lower most point in its travel, itu'iil engage with the bottom end of the support f and ii t thesack-opening devices into position for another operation, the stud ii!engaging and lifting the paWl 35 to stop the rotation ot' the disks 28,281 when the opening members 23 and 24 have been lifted.

The bag-holder 8 is of arcuate shape wiih the shaft 11 as a center andthe sacks i0 heing of greater thickness ai ihr bottoni than the top lieon radial lines within such bagholder.

What 1 claim as my imeutiorr4 1. 1n an automatic vending machineF a refceptacle for paper bags, said bags nach naring the rear edge of itsopening projeting above its forward odge. means to impart pressure uponsaid paper bags to impr-i them in forward directions`r and a tongue ri`dly connected to said rr-reptacle and aripbed to .be engaged by saidrear edge of the foremost of said bags to cause auch bags to gape open.

2. In an automatic vending machine` a receptacle for paper bags. saidbags nach having the rear edge of its opening proieciing above itsforward edge. means to impari pressure upon said paper bags to impelthem in forward directions a tongue adapted to engage said rear edge ofthe foremost of said bags to cause such bags to gripe open, andresilient devices provided in the forward end of said receptacle toexert a yielding pressure against the lower portion of Said bags.

3. in an automatic vending machine, a rereptaclc for paper bags, saidbugs cach having the real' odge ol' ils opening' projecting shove itsforward edge. means to impart pressure upon said paper bags to iinpclthem in forward directions. a longue adalrtcd to engage said roar edgeof the foremost of said bags lo cai-se such baits to gripe open, separabagopening nicniln-rs arranged to einer sal opt lcd und o' the img g andmeans to separate said niuuiiiers to expand said bag.

si, ln an automatic vending machine, a receptacle for paper bags, saidbags each having th rear edge of iis opening projecting above forwardedge', rurans to impart pressure upon said paper bags to impel them inforward directions, a longul.` adaptd ed to engage said rear edge of theforemost of said bags to cause such bags to gap@ open`r nrovided in theforward resilient devir end oi' ieeepiacle to exert a yielding prt-ssneinst the lownir portion of said opening mornin-rs comprising tn'osubstant iiat nlaies pnotud together al' their iper and .fidapted to beproliected anhin said ling. means to separate said ineiiebeis to expandthe hafj. said members adel-ding, when separated. a guide-way formaterial to iii! said bags.

in an autonuitic vending machine, in combination` a chute whereinmaterial to be viendrai is retains-ih and a hag'opcning deronsisting oftwo substantially fiat plates pivotcd together at their upper end, andadapted to be separated to expand a pn `l`r by; container, the openingbetween 1t when separated affording a j for said material from saidchute to the container.

T. in an automatic vending machine, a hopper for tering pop-corn or thelike, aud :stap to contain a predctrrlnined quantir i said pop-Corn.said chute` having an open end communicating with said hopper, carriersoperatively1 mounted to convey pope-corn from said hopper to said chuteand having au open cud copcrating with the Walls of said hopper toretain the pop-corn therein until registered with said open end of thechute.

8, In an automatic vending machine`r the combination with a receptaclefor paper bags, of means for opening the top of the foremost of saidbags and bag: opening ineinhers compris-ing two substantially fiatplates idaptwfi to enter a bag and then he sepa; rfited to estend thebag, the said piates when izo separated eonsuituting a chute :For diepassage of materiel into the bag.

9. In an automatic vending machine, the combination with a receptaclefor pa er bags, of means for feeding said begs or wnrdly in eindreceptacles. apparatus for slightly opening the to? ot the foremost ofSuid paper bags, and bag oiening members comprising two flat plateslim'ing u lthin, tapering end Adapted te be projected into o. beg inclose proximity to the bottom thereof and then be separated to open thebag, the said plates when separated eenetitnting :i chute for tilepassage of nntterial into the bag.

Nl. ln nn nntonmtie vending machine, in wi-inbinution with derives foriiolding peper lmgfe' in :dined position. :and :i tong-ne adapted toengage the reen' edge nl' z. bag' aperture to (finis-v die img' 'logaine open, if 51:15.5- iliing e'viw :arr: iig-ed tor nimenient to en-4ter and ,mz'tlv opened linge to diieiond the annie, :ind guidi-d inloSmid img liy contact with mid tongue.

ll. An nnfinnntir vending merlrine eenlprieing :i rmi-epele for impormeans iwr ii-ee'iing nid lngeieiealrlly in ssiiid le 'rgitneie, :1tongue for spreading ilu' top et tlm foremost one ot' Said linge,opening); di vif-es guided by Suid tongue m'x'nnp'iwfi to en- Hiirvlfoi-moet img and open it, mid open-- if derive# affording;eomnnznirntfii e connections` l'wtween :i Source of Supply of vendiblemitterfil :ind seid bag.

l An nutonmlie vending Headline, eenlprit ng :l reeeptaeliii for paperlinge, menne for feeding Said'lmgs iorwztrlfily in Suid ref Cep'ueie, :stongue for slightly epreeding the to); of the foremost one of midliags,ln1gopening devices adapted to einer said forenioe! img, menne forexpanding said bugopening devicee, n chiite aulnpl'efl to delivernmeriiil into said opened ling a. hopper, :ind

nenni 'For conveying mailen-ini from said lzopgna; into :said chiite.

13. in automatic vending machine, coinprieingr` :i reweptaele for paperlinge, ineens for moving said bags fori'ardly in @sind re evpteeie,.spring clips to releesaiily hold said litige in said receptacle, :nenneier Slightly Spreading the top of the foremost nog in said receptacle, useparable img-opener adapted, to enter and open said foremost beg, meansfor fillingV said bug' zitter it ie: opened. and ineens forwithdrziwiinI Suid lm o|iene1.

14. An autom-atie vendingmachine, coniprising n receptacle for palperlangs, means for feeding Seid liege forwnrdlg.' in Said receptacle. :Ltongue adapted to L:premi the tops o1" seid bags siightly, i bzigepeneradapted to enter :mid img, mid lmgnopener consling in two tint inemiwretiert :ire hinged nl their upper ends, :ind ineens for spreading thebottom ends ol Huid begevening members apart to open said ling.

l5. An mstois'mtie vending rlmehine, con prising a rereptaeie for paperbags, means for feeding said bags forwardly in said re- Ceptaoie, :itongue to Spread the top of the 'Foremost img in said receptacleslightly, a begrepen@ rwnsisting in two flat plates that are hinged ettheir top endsl and adapted to oe moved apart to open a bag, ineens forSupporting said bug-opener in :L raised p0- anion, menne for loweringsaid bag-opener, und ineens for expanding and raising Said brig-opener.

16. An automatic vending machine, comprieing :n receptacle for peperbugs, said reeeparle being of eegn'sental form, Whereby, when n,lilsu'elity et' paper bags are placed 'there-in. vut-h of Meid bagswill lie in a radial plane of Seid receptacle, menne for delivering.;rSuid odge e :1t a. time from said rec/eptiiele, ini-mw for opening saidbags, and menne'` for i'iling Suid bags.

1T. An automatic vending machine, com prising :1 receptacle for paperbags, means for advancing Enid bags in said receptacle, und reeilientderieee 'provided in the forward end of mid recept-cie to exert a,yielding presenre :igninet the foremost one of said e, .in uniomelievending machine, com prising u receptacle for a Commodity to be efoid.'u ehm@ 'mi' holding' u. predetermined amount of said oon'nnodity, areceptacle for papel' bags, un arm for feeding said bags for 'ardly inseid receptacle, a twrrpart bagepeiring member, means for lowering Saidling-ogjwii-ii1g member into the foremost one et' riid tinge. menus forspreading the two parte oi said beg-opening `member to open Suid lingund forni a, passageway tliereinto, ineen for moving the bottom und efsaid bugmpcning member outwardly to release .1 iiiled img, and naeansfor raising Suid bagopeninp; member.

1U. An automatic vending machine, coniplising); n reoeptaele for paperbags, a. tWO- part lmgopener, one part of seid bag-opener inning :1nopening" therethrough, e chute, :in extension iivotilly secured to theend of Suid eli-nie sind normally mlnjgited to oloee mid einde. zuidineens for lowering said extension when Suid bug-opener is imvered tocause mid extension to `projeet within said opening in seid bag-openerto deiiver the contents el' nid elinte thereinto.

20, An :iuioinzitio vending machine conv prising u frame, a horizontalarm pivoted :it one end to seid frame, a bag-opener comprising twomembers that are pivoted t0 Suid :um :it their upper ends, rotatablymounted spaced disks, :1 bar extending beteren :und die -1.4, :i iegpivoted to said arm. und having; :i noti-lied end adapted to rest uponsind bal', e Stop engaging Saiid leg .rliereisy, wlmi said disks arerotated, said leg will drop off of said bar and lower said hagopeningdevice and will then be rengagcd hy said har and lifted to its originalposition as said disks continue to rotate, and means for arresting themovement of said disks at the end of one complete revolution.

2l. A device of the class described, coniprising a frame, a horizontalarm pvoted at one end to said frame, sack-opening inem bers pivotallysecured to the other end of said arm, a leg pivotally secured to saidarni, rot atabl)` mounted spaced disks, means for c'ecting a completerotation of said disks, a cross-har connecting said disks and upon whichsaid leg is adapted to rest, and means engaging said leg to cause saidleg to drop otl' olV said cross-bar when snid disks begin to rotate.

22. A structure of the class described, comprising a receptacle forpaper bags, a shaft extending cross-wise of said receptacle, an armsecured to said shaft, a bagopcning device, moans for raisingandlowering said bag-opening device, and means con ncctotl with said shafttor advancing Said arm a predetermined amount upon each downwardmovement of said bag-opening device.

23. In an automatic vending machine, a holder for paper bags, consistingin a seg mental shaped receptacle and a follower adapted to press saidbags forwardly, said follower being iivotally mounted in the `axis ofsaid hoh er.

24. In an automatic vending machine, a holder for paper bags consistingin a segmental shaped receptacle, a foliower arranged to press upon therear side of said bags, consistin of an arm pivoted in the axis of saidho der, and driving mechanism for actuating said arm to move said bagsin forward directions.

25. In an automatic vending machine, a

holder for paper bags consisting in a segmunt-al shaped receptacle, afollower arranged to Contact upon the reverse side of yraid bags.consisting in an arm pivotally mounted in the axis of said hoidcr, anddriving mechanism for actuating said arm to move said bags in forwarddirections.

"253. In an automatic vending machine, a

holder for paper bags, a follower arranged to contact upon the reverseSide 0f said bags, and actuating mechanism adapted to adtanee saidfollower forwardly at a uniform rate of travel and with uniform pressurenoon said bags when said vending machine is operated` and means to causethe foremost ot' said hogs to gape open.

27. In an antoniatic vending machine, bag opening mechanism consistingin two substantially dat plates pivotaliy connected at one ol their endsand adapted to be protrndt-d into a paper bag, and means to sepa.- ratcsaid membersr to expand said bag.

2H. In an automatic vcndin machine, the combination oi' a` chute for hoding a desired amount of a vcndible commodity, bag-- opening mechanismconsisting in two sepa rahle inc-.intiem nivotally connected at theirupper ends and adapted to he lowered and protrndcd into a bag, andalici-ding a assageway for said commodity into said ag, means toseparate said members to expand said bag, and means whereby the contentsof said chute is delivered into said passageway simultaneously with thelowering of said members.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 23rd day of April, 1915.

IRA T. WOLFE.

Wimesses r Hormon BARNES, PIERRE BARNES.

